Vault-closure.



M. E. COBB.

VAULT CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED A1 R.23, 1912.

1,035,531. Patented Aug". 13,1912.

I:- 9 I as it l I \1 fiwasms 1mm r9110?- Ramble/L0 a I J 'sqrropmy OFCLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 OHN F.

MANUEL E. COBB,

Emma,

VAULT-CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 23, 1912.Serial No. 692,626.

- To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MANUEL E. COBB, citizenof the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVault-Closures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to vault closures, and particularly to devicesintended for locking and hermetically sealing grave vaults, so thatafter being closed the closure cannot be opened.

In, practice the casket will be placed in the vault, and the closure ordoor applied and locked, so that it cannot be opened without destroyingthe structure.

The object of the invention is to form improved devices of the kind andfor the purpose stated.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is an inner elevation showing thelocking or securing devices which are applied to the closure plate. Fig.2 is a sectional view showing the locking devices in edge elevation.Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the pawl for preventing reopening of theclosure. Fig. 4 is a detail in section illustrating the means foroperating the locking device.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 isthe easing of the vault,which is open at line and to receive the door or closure plate '7 Whichis a solid plate the fit against a beveled seat 7 edges of which formedat the end of the casing. Mounted upon the inner .side of the plate 7,by means of guides or guards 12, are a plurality of locking members orbolts 11, the length and shape of which substantially accord with theadjacent edges of the plate, the locking members being provided withrack stems or bars 11 which extend radially, and the racks of which areengaged by gear segments 10 mounted on stub shafts 10 on the back of theplate. These gears are arranged around and mesh with a master gear 9,fastened to or formed integral with a gear 14, both of these gears beingmounted u on a stub shaft 9 at the back of the plate The gear 1 1.locking members, advance is drawn tightly to its seat,

meshes with a pinion 8 which is supported 1n position by a bracket 8 andthe pinion 8 has a squared opening or recess 8 at the Patented Aug. 13,1912. i

center, adapted to receive the squared end of a key 13 which may beinserted therein through a hole 20 in the plate 7, whereby the pinionmay be turned. A pawl 15 is pivoted on the back of the plate 7 and isadapted to drop between the teeth of the gear 9 and so lock'the gearagainst rotation. This pawl may be pressed by a spring 16. pin 17,inserted through a hole in the plate 7, serves to support the pawl outofengagement until the vault is finally locked.

The locking members 11 engage behind or within a projecting flange 22around the opening to the vault, and the edges of the members arebeveled slightly as indicated at 9.1, so that when the locking membersare advanced the wedge action -will draw the plate 7 tightly against theadjacent edges of the casing, -'n order to make a tight joint and sealthe vault.

In the use of the device, the closure is applied to the front of thevault, and by means of the key 13 the pinion 8 is turned, and thisrotates the master gear 9 and the intermediate gears 10, which, byengagement with the racks on the stems of the the said members radiallyto engagement wit-h the flange 22, and thereby draws in the plate 7 andlocks the-closure, after which the key 13 is removed. By removal of thepin 17 the pawl 15 drops to engagement with the gear 9 and preventsreverse motion thereof, and when the pawl drops it also closes the holethrough which the pin 17 was insentedhtt'llhe vault is thus permzinenclosed and) lcannot be opened except by destruction of the closure. Byreason of the beveled engagement and wedge action of the members 11 theplate 7 the gearing affording the necessary power to produce thiseffect, by the advance of the locking meme bers.

What I claim is:

edto seat against the edge of the opening to to receive a key, saiddooirhaving a hole the vault, bolt-s movably mounted on said through whichthe key may be inserted. door and provided with racks, gears on Intestimony whereof, I' do aflix my signagaging said racks respectively, amaster ture in preseneeof two Witnesses;

gear located at the center of the door and MANUEL E. COBB. meshing withsaid gears, and means to 1'0". Witnesses:

tate said master gear comprising a pinion JOHN A. BOMMHARDT engaging thesame and having an opening STEDMAN J. ROCKWELL.

Games of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addi'essingthe Commissioner of Eaten Washington, D. 0.

